October 18 – Any hopes that Iran might permanently relax its ban on women attending football matches have been well and truly dashed, with the country’s prosecutor general saying such a move would “lead to sin”.
By Samindra Kunti
October 17 – In a rare move Iran allowed women to attend Team Meli’s friendly with Bolivia on Tuesday in Tehran. Women have been banned from watching football in the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
January 9 – In a move that western human rights groups – and perhaps others closer to home – may view with some scepticism, Saudi Arabian women are being allowed to attend major domestic football matches for the first time.